DAVIS, Calif. — Covid-19 is accelerating trends already underway in California agriculture, including more labor-saving mechanization, more H-2A guest workers, and more imported fresh produce. Most large food-related COVID outbreaks have been among nonfarm food and meat processing workers, but COVID can spread rapidly in often crowded farm worker housing, and has broken out among H-2A workers who are often housed four to a room in bunk beds.
The University of California, Davis, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, continues the special California Agriculture COVID-19 Webinar Series September 2, 2020 with a focus on farm labor.
ARE Professor Timothy Beatty and ARE Professor Emeritus Phil Martin will discuss how COVID-19 has impacted farm labor and California agriculture during the free webinar on September 2, 2020 at 1:00 PM (PST).
This is the third webinar in the series that features UC Davis faculty experts discussing the impacts of the pandemic for key California agricultural sectors, including beef cattle, tree nuts, farm labor, and fresh produce.
Other topics and dates in the webinar series include:
Beef Cattle
- August 20, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (PST)
- Cattle Producers Struggle as COVID-19 Reduces Beef Processing Capacity
- Presented by Tina Saitone, Associate Cooperative Extension Specialist
Tree Nuts
- August 27, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (PST)
- California Tree Nut Industries Set Up Well to Handle COVID-19 Pandemic
- Presented by Brittney Goodrich, Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist
Farm Labor
- September 2, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (PST)
- COVID-19 and Farm Workers: Challenges Facing California Agriculture
- Presented by Timothy Beatty, Professor and Philip Martin, Professor Emeritus
Fresh Produce
- September 9, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (PST)
- How is Fresh Produce Adjusting to the Public Health Crisis?
- Presented by Kristin Kiesel, Assistant Professor of Teaching
All webinars will be recorded and available for viewing.
“California leads the nation in farm sales…as it faces the challenges of COVID-19 California agriculture is adjusting and adapting,” said Rachael Goodhue, UC Davis ARE professor and department chair. “Each session will provide participants an expert look at issues facing California agriculture and the nation’s food supply during these unprecedented times.”
Click here to register for one or more webinar session.
Media contacts:
Julie B. Klein, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 530-341-4397, jbklein@ucdavis.edu
Tiffany Loveridge, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 530-752-5773, tdloveridge@ucdavis.edu
–University of California, Davis,
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences